Flood Risk Perception and Land Use Change Analysis in Flood Affected- Communities: A Case Study of Temerloh, Malaysia

Floods are one of the most common natural disasters worldwide. In Malaysia, floods cause significant economic damage and loss of human life. The frequency and magnitude of floods are increasing due to climate change and related anthropogenic activities. This study surveyed 280 respondents living in the Temerloh district which is in the midstream zone of the Pahang River Basin. This paper highlights their flood experience and identifies the cause of floods from the view of lay people. Results show that respondents are experienced in flood and flood-related damages. However, their perception of the causes of floods focused on natural causes while ignoring anthropogenic activities such as land use changes. To identify the land use changes, we used a classified shapefile for the years 2000 and 2010 from the Department of Agriculture, Malaysia and used overlay procedure in ArcGIS 10.1. Within the ten years, significant land use changes took place which could increase future flood risks. This paper argues that a grassroots approach to solving flood-related problems is essential. Accordingly, policymakers and decision-makers should involve the local community in the decision making which may develop their flood risk perception and awareness about sustainable land use.